Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,179 entries, all of them here in full.
July 26, 2020 · 446 words
New Zealish
I will be a participant in this year’s Worldcon, which was to be held in New Zealand but will now be held online. I’m posting my appearance schedule below. The first time given is New Zealand time. I’ve found that to convert from New Zealand time to Mountain Daylight Time (where I live), you need […]
Read entry →July 19, 2020 · 204 words
Tapa Out
So last night’s experiment in cuisine was seafood paella. I’d never made paella before, and I’ve probably eaten it less than half a dozen times in my life, but I had a new skillet that I thought would do a good job with it, and the ingredients were to hand, including the terrific saffron that […]
Read entry →July 12, 2020 · 287 words
Relocking
Here you find me and my sparring partner Heironymus Bash ready for the renewed New Mexico lockdown that begins Monday. Bars will be shut. Indoor restaurants will be closed, though there will still be takeout and outdoor patio dining at half capacity. Masks are mandatory in public, even for joggers and other people doin
Read entry →July 8, 2020 · 81 words
Toolbox Turnout
I’m delighted to report two new novels by graduates of Taos Toolbox, The Wysman by Dorothy A. Windsor, who was at the very first Toolbox in 2007, and Bad Parts by Brandon McNulty, who attended much more recently than 2007, though I cannot recall the exact year. The Wysman is a YA fantasy, and you can read more about [&
Read entry →July 6, 2020 · 437 words
Boxen
One thing that lockdown permits is time for a lot of big projects, provided that the projects can be carried out at home. So right now I’m involved in boxing up a lot of original manuscripts, which I’m donating to the archives at Texas A&M, where they will spend eternity in a climate-controlled bunker, […]
Read entry →July 4, 2020 · 92 words
independence
We decided to do a big Fourth of July celebration, just the two of us, in part because we need cheering up. So I put on a patriotic aloha shirt, with US Navy ships on it, then made some lovely, tender sous vide ribs, collard greens, and sweet corn, and there will be ice cream […]
Read entry →June 26, 2020 · 196 words
No Two Alike!
I’ve been spending recent days signing my name over and over again, signature sheets for the forthcoming Best of Walter Jon Williams from Subterranean Press. It’s an edition of 1000, but I have to sign something like 1500 sheets, because mistakes can happen in production and sometimes my signature sucks a lot more than
Read entry →June 25, 2020 · 140 words
Taos Toolbox 2021
I’m very sad to announce that Taos Toolbox 2020, which had moved from June to September due to the dangers of Covid 19, has now been moved to summer of 2021. Those accepted for this year have the option of coming next year instead, or getting a tuition refund. The coronavirus doesn’t look as if […]
Read entry →June 18, 2020 · 256 words
Terran Prize Awarded
The Terran Prize for 2020, consisting of a scholarship provided by George R.R. Martin for the Taos Toolbox writing workshop, has been won by Maurice Haeems of Mumbai, India. Taos Toolbox was forced by the Covid pandemic to move from its original June dates to September 6-19, in Angel Fire, New Mexico. The workshop will
Read entry →June 15, 2020 · 47 words
From Our Beleaguered Agents . . .
A group of literary agents have released a plea to the public to “stop sending us your Covid novels!” Turns out that there’s not a lot of drama inherent in a story where people stay at home, watch a lot of TV, and never meet anyone else.
Read entry →June 11, 2020 · 1,286 words
Month Nine
It’s been nine months since my hip replacement surgery, and I haven’t done an update since November 25. (Here’s the last one.) I haven’t done an update because (1) it’s a depressing topic, and (2) nothing much has changed. But it may serve as an illustration of medical services in the age of Covid, so […]
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